Sunday, December 21, 2008

How Not To Clean Up Vomit

Okay, what is it about Christmas and stomach bugs? Poor toddler Georgia had it Monday, I was striken Wednesday and Thursday, and apparently, today it's 8-year-old Lila's turn. Bless her heart, she managed to hit the hardwood floor and miss the large leather purse that was hanging on the bedpost, but what, in my 4am stupor, did I grab for cleanup? Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.

Not a bad choice, you say? Perhaps not -- if I had chosen a scent other than lemon!! Ack! Even the thought makes me queasy right now! But fear not -- I never present a problem without a solution. When both Bob and I were about to hurl in sympathy ourselves, I grabbed a jar of Vick's Vapour Rub and smeared it on our necks. Like smelling salts of old, we recovered!

In other news, the One Hot Mama store is open and it is fabulous! Please come visit and then spread the word on yelp, citypages, superpages, wherever you and your opinions roam! (Yes, for those of you with synapses firing on all cylinders, I left my sick pumpkin at home with my Fairy Godmother, aka my Mum).

Three more shopping days, but more importantly, that many wrapping days!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Thank Goodness for Grandmothers

They're definitely not the grandmas of yesteryear -- my mother and mother-in-law are both stereotype-defying, very hot chicks -- but without them, I'd be toast. This is what people mean when they say "it takes a village" -- extended family is a big part of that community. Today is our first day with a store that needs to be open at the promised time, and I was going to bring the girls, aka the whirling dervishes, in with me. Hey, it's not like I have a choice! But my mom called and tactfully pointed out the futility of that plan, and is coming over to watch them play at home for a few hours!

Saving my butt again, just like when she flew in to take care of me when I was put on bedrest for SIX weeks (before the internet, people!) while pregnant with my son, and again after my daughter was born and I began hemorraging from over-activity postpartum.

Take a moment to thank your mom today -- you never know when she'll be there for you!

Friday, December 12, 2008

It's Like Giving Birth Again!

Well, okay, only sort of. But the anticipation, the very hard work and the feeling of not knowing if you'll make it are all the same -- the new One Hot Mama store opens on Monday, December 15th!!

The new, sexy, adorable, comfortable store will be right down from the California Pizza Kitchen in the California Pavilion at Laurelgrove, and we can’t wait for you to visit. Shopping couldn’t be easier. Valet park in the garage on Laurelgrove, and we’ll validate your ticket. Take the elevator to the second floor, and check out the goodies that arrive almost daily. We have toys to entertain your little ones while you shop, and if you forget the wipes, we have them on hand! Afterwards, nosh at CPK or get massaged at The Massage Company or do what I do, which is to enjoy some Coldstone ice cream. We’re open weekdays from 10 (after preschool drop-off) to 7, Saturdays noon to 7, and Sundays noon to 5. If I’m not there to help you, my mom Christene will be. Our bestselling item right now is the amazing Belly Bandit postpartum belly wrap, and we have tons of fab outfits to make holiday travel and entertaining easier. Come check it out!

One Hot Mama
12265 Ventura Boulevard, #203
Studio City, CA 91604
818-980-9812
800-217-3750

And for online shopping, we’re still at http://www.onehotmama.com. Pictures soon!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The. Best. Idea. Ever.

In the "why didn't I think of this?" category -- actually, probably did think of it, but was too sleep-deprived and whiny to do anything about it.

NuMamaSpa -- saw it on Daily Candy today, and just had to let you know. If you're in LA, book early and often, and if you're not, write the mommy-daddy creators behind the idea and tell them they're geniuses. (Maybe you can prevail on them to travel to you!)

The thought of a stress-free massage is enough to sustain me for the day. :)

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Motherhood is a Marathon

When people talk about "bouncing back" from having a baby (as I did, so many years ago, after having just one) I have to laugh. Out loud. I am, just now, in 2008, bouncing back. Or starting to. From the marathon that started with my first son's birth on July 15, 1997 (yes, in the last century!) and continues to this day.

No, I'm not whining about the gig (another day, another post, perhaps) but I want to remind anyone who's questioning their seeming lack of ambition or ability after becoming a mom (or becoming one again) that they aren't nuts. I remember my manager, Sara, telling me that she knew people who hadn't changed their life a bit after having children, and that she didn't like those people all that much. (At the time, she may have been commiserating with me over being dumped by my agent!)

My son is now 11, my daughter 8 and the surprise twin girls are 3 1/2 -- and only now am I back at work as an actress (for a laugh, check out my imdb page and play Spot The Pregnancy/Birth Hiatuses) and at our really fun site for moms from the first trimester to the fourth, One Hot Mama. We are opening a store (in this economy!) next week, and I literally did not have a spare moment of brain power, or, more importantly, psychic energy to devote to such a venture for the past four years. To be fair, I did have twins on the last go-around, but I reallly feel that people are more willing to cut you slack with multiples. And, more to point, I was more willing to do that for myself.

So whether you've just had a baby and are wondering what comes next, or you are on your fourth and the youngest starts kindergarten in the fall -- pace yourself. Stay the course. Whatever you're doing right now is just where you need to be. If you're truly miserable, change something up. But please, do not beat up on yourself for not doing anything. We're in this for the long haul, and there are no grades. You are the best mother for your child.

Have a great day, and a sleep-filled night!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

What Not To Do In A Recession

Open a store, that's what!! Yeah, but Bob and I are bound together by our total contrarian natures, so we've put all our eggs in the One Hot Mama basket and are working round the clock to have our One Hot Mama maternity and nursingwear store open by December 15th in Studio City, California! So if you're pregnant or nursing and need something to wear for the holidays, don't despair. We're going to be two doors down from California Pizza Kitchen on Ventura, and we can't wait to meet you. If you live in LA and want a gift certificate for use at the store as my thank you for reading this blog, please be sure to comment and include your email address so I can send it to you. Have a great day!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Quick Thoughts

1. I am so grateful to have my amazing husband as my partner in life and business.

2. Today, One Hot Mama signed a lease and will officially open a real store in Studio City, California within the next two weeks (now you know why thought number 1 occurred to me!)

3. We're all real women. I just read a cool article about another female entrepreneur with a clothing line, a website and a store, and I went to her site so I could send her my regards, and was met by a banner saying something to the effect of, "clothing for real women" --in sizes 14 to 26. Now, I get that she's meeting a need, but do you need to slam other chicks to do it? Do we say, One Hot Mama, clothes for real women who've used their uteruses? Ugh. No. You can serve your community without claiming it's the only real way to be.

4. Cool sales around LA this weekend, including my friend Suzie's amazing sample sale of Burgundy Blue kids' clothing. A bit of a trek to downtown, but cool and should be worth it.

Sunday December 7th
noon until 6:00pm
Burgundy Blue: SAMPLE SALE*funky fashions for babies and toddlers
1250 Long Beach Ave STUDIO 309
LA,CA 90021
213.448.0503
**conveniently located one block from the 10 Freeway, at Alameda
also near the 5, 110, and 101 Freeways